A Ham Lake woman pleaded guilty Wednesday to stealing bank account information and cashing counterfeit checks as part of a multistate theft ring based in the Twin Cities.

Brianna Blegen, 25, a bank teller, was part of a ring responsible for stealing approximately $2 million from financial institutions and retail businesses in no fewer than 14 states. In her plea agreement, she admitted that in 2009 she provided her co-conspirators with bank customer information, including names, dates of birth, Social Security numbers and account numbers. The stolen information was used to create counterfeit checks and fraudulent identification documents that were ultimately passed at banks and stores for cash.

Blegen also admitted that she cashed counterfeit payroll checks, using the cash for her personal benefit and the benefit of her co-conspirators. She illegally withdrew approximately $39,700 from customers' accounts. Twelve others have already pleaded guilty in this case, and another 12 are awaiting trial in August.

DAVID CHANEN